01. ImPort Hall [Sam is new. Far too new to have a fan base yet, and yet there are people around him and what appears to be a cardboard stand. A small, white banner hangs above him which says "DE CHIMA VINEYARD: 'THE NOSE KNOWS'" in purple script, and Sam is smiling, dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt as he hands out samples of wine to those of age, and writes down the info of those who would like a case of one bottle or another sent to their home.
The idea was Sam's, originally - an imPort always draws in business, right? Have him there as a representative for the vineyard and he could get the name and the brand out, stir a little new interest. He'd made it clear he doesn't want to be a spokesperson (that would make things difficult down the line if he decides to venture into anything of his own), so he's a little annoyed that despite all assurances they've already created a slogan that plays off Sam's made-public "ability". His photo might not be on any pamphlets or posters (and damn well better stay off them, or he really will make a fuss), but he can see that the owner is trying hard to link the man to the product.
He's generating a little interest, enough to feel this isn't a waste at least, although a few who approach seem more interested in the Southerner than trying any of the wine. Towards the end of the tasting there's one unfortunate incident where a young woman badgers him into trying to prove just how good his smell really is, and Sam finally congratulates her for an upcoming event which neither she nor her boyfriend were actually aware of yet.
Telling someone they're pregnant before they know themselves is probably a faux pas (and definitely embarrassing for everyone involved), but hey, at least she found out before she actually got to try any of the wine samples.]
02. The Panels [after his own commitment is done with there's not much for Sam to do but look around the convention. He has little interest in the fan side of things, but a number of the panels look interesting. Given how new he is and a helpful lack of otherworldly features, he also thinks he can slip from one to the other without getting overwhelmed by fans the way he's seen some imPorts be. Much as Sam is an avowed people person, this level of attention is enough to throw even him off his stride.
He starts at IN THE ARMS OF AN ANGEL: ADOPT AN ANIMAL OR SUFFER CRIPPLING GUILT for the same reason as pretty much everyone else, which is to spend some time with the animals. Sam won't adopt one himself, but he will absolutely get on his knees with a number of the dogs, more than one of whom seems very excited to attract the Southerner's attention. From there he heads to IS THAT A DRAGON IN MY GARDEN? hoping to actually catch sight of a dragon to imprint on, and also because hey, magic creatures are cool and he's never seen one. Who could blame him?
Later in the afternoon Sam wanders into RELIGION: HOW TO JUSTIFY YOUR FAITH IN A WORLD WHERE THE DEVIL EXISTS. Maybe that's an odd panel choice for an atheist, but when someone's claiming to be the Devil it's hard to resist getting a look. The shifter stands against the wall, skeptical and discomfited to be around so many unironic Satanists, but also relieved by the lack of horns and hooves on the guy on the stage. Halfway through he moves to slip out unnoticed.
His last drop-ins of the day are to IMPORTS AND REGISTRATION: A CONTROL MODEL THAT SPANS WORLDS and LAWYER AT LARGE: IMPORTS' IMPACT, INVOLVEMENT, AND INFLUENCE ON TV & MEDIA. He finds the former informative, if obviously heavily opinionated, and while he's not sure he can hop on board with calling Registration the best thing out there (particularly not as a man who heavily values his privacy), he can't really speak against it when he's chosen to Register himself. The second panel is interesting if only to get a better sense for Mr. Winger and his work, and Sam by the end feels he's been successful with both. He also gets a good laugh when the man cracks a joke or two, impressed in general by the lawyer's charisma - even accompanied as it is by some healthy ego.]
03. A Run-In [there's a fight brewing in the hallway between the Artist's Alley and the Refreshments area. It's only happenstance that Sam wanders by as it's gearing up, some argument over one person stealing something of another person's online (Sam isn't sure what the issue is exactly, the vocabulary they're using doesn't make sense to him) that is gathering a crowd. One person shoves the other and then they're yelling, getting close to brawling, other con-goers helpfully encouraging an actual fight.]
- Hey, hey! [Sam takes a few steps over, but he's just one more voice among the noise and the fans refuse to show him attention. The shifter's expression twists, he considers stepping in -
And then he considers something else. Something he hasn't tried yet, and probably it's damn foolish of him, but the curiosity has been eating him and here's an opportunity.]
Hey. [There's no obvious, dramatic change when he tries out his his new ability, the one his file referred to as a Whisper. His voice doesn't ring any differently, his eyes don't change color. Maybe his cadence is a little lower, a little smoother, but anyone could do that with their voice.
What anyone couldn't do is get one of the boys about to fight, heavy-set and blond-haired, to turn and look at Sam. Two others in the crowd look Sam's way as well, obviously distracted.] Hey now, you don't really want to start a fight in the middle of a hallway. Thought this was supposed to be a good time here, people comin' together, not arguin' over stupid shit. Ya'll should calm down now and sort this out later.
[the other, slighter would-be combatant looks ready to spit, brushing off Sam's advice with a 'What the hell do you know about it?', but his opponent shakes his head. It's visible even in the boy's shoulders that he's calmed, no longer interested in the fight, and he says as much. That gets another derisive look and a flippant comment about settling things later, but - it's more or less over. People mill around, making sure the excitement is really done with, then start to disperse.
Sam watches them go, hiding the churning surprise in his stomach that the ability worked at all, and adds (in a less purposeful voice):] There y'are. Would be a damn stupid decision to start a fight with a bunch of superheroes around anyway.
Sam Merlotte | Registered | OTA
[Sam is new. Far too new to have a fan base yet, and yet there are people around him and what appears to be a cardboard stand. A small, white banner hangs above him which says "DE CHIMA VINEYARD: 'THE NOSE KNOWS'" in purple script, and Sam is smiling, dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt as he hands out samples of wine to those of age, and writes down the info of those who would like a case of one bottle or another sent to their home.
The idea was Sam's, originally - an imPort always draws in business, right? Have him there as a representative for the vineyard and he could get the name and the brand out, stir a little new interest. He'd made it clear he doesn't want to be a spokesperson (that would make things difficult down the line if he decides to venture into anything of his own), so he's a little annoyed that despite all assurances they've already created a slogan that plays off Sam's made-public "ability". His photo might not be on any pamphlets or posters (and damn well better stay off them, or he really will make a fuss), but he can see that the owner is trying hard to link the man to the product.
He's generating a little interest, enough to feel this isn't a waste at least, although a few who approach seem more interested in the Southerner than trying any of the wine. Towards the end of the tasting there's one unfortunate incident where a young woman badgers him into trying to prove just how good his smell really is, and Sam finally congratulates her for an upcoming event which neither she nor her boyfriend were actually aware of yet.
Telling someone they're pregnant before they know themselves is probably a faux pas (and definitely embarrassing for everyone involved), but hey, at least she found out before she actually got to try any of the wine samples.]
02. The Panels
[after his own commitment is done with there's not much for Sam to do but look around the convention. He has little interest in the fan side of things, but a number of the panels look interesting. Given how new he is and a helpful lack of otherworldly features, he also thinks he can slip from one to the other without getting overwhelmed by fans the way he's seen some imPorts be. Much as Sam is an avowed people person, this level of attention is enough to throw even him off his stride.
He starts at IN THE ARMS OF AN ANGEL: ADOPT AN ANIMAL OR SUFFER CRIPPLING GUILT for the same reason as pretty much everyone else, which is to spend some time with the animals. Sam won't adopt one himself, but he will absolutely get on his knees with a number of the dogs, more than one of whom seems very excited to attract the Southerner's attention. From there he heads to IS THAT A DRAGON IN MY GARDEN? hoping to actually catch sight of a dragon to imprint on, and also because hey, magic creatures are cool and he's never seen one. Who could blame him?
Later in the afternoon Sam wanders into RELIGION: HOW TO JUSTIFY YOUR FAITH IN A WORLD WHERE THE DEVIL EXISTS. Maybe that's an odd panel choice for an atheist, but when someone's claiming to be the Devil it's hard to resist getting a look. The shifter stands against the wall, skeptical and discomfited to be around so many unironic Satanists, but also relieved by the lack of horns and hooves on the guy on the stage. Halfway through he moves to slip out unnoticed.
His last drop-ins of the day are to IMPORTS AND REGISTRATION: A CONTROL MODEL THAT SPANS WORLDS and LAWYER AT LARGE: IMPORTS' IMPACT, INVOLVEMENT, AND INFLUENCE ON TV & MEDIA. He finds the former informative, if obviously heavily opinionated, and while he's not sure he can hop on board with calling Registration the best thing out there (particularly not as a man who heavily values his privacy), he can't really speak against it when he's chosen to Register himself. The second panel is interesting if only to get a better sense for Mr. Winger and his work, and Sam by the end feels he's been successful with both. He also gets a good laugh when the man cracks a joke or two, impressed in general by the lawyer's charisma - even accompanied as it is by some healthy ego.]
03. A Run-In
[there's a fight brewing in the hallway between the Artist's Alley and the Refreshments area. It's only happenstance that Sam wanders by as it's gearing up, some argument over one person stealing something of another person's online (Sam isn't sure what the issue is exactly, the vocabulary they're using doesn't make sense to him) that is gathering a crowd. One person shoves the other and then they're yelling, getting close to brawling, other con-goers helpfully encouraging an actual fight.]
- Hey, hey! [Sam takes a few steps over, but he's just one more voice among the noise and the fans refuse to show him attention. The shifter's expression twists, he considers stepping in -
And then he considers something else. Something he hasn't tried yet, and probably it's damn foolish of him, but the curiosity has been eating him and here's an opportunity.]
Hey. [There's no obvious, dramatic change when he tries out his his new ability, the one his file referred to as a Whisper. His voice doesn't ring any differently, his eyes don't change color. Maybe his cadence is a little lower, a little smoother, but anyone could do that with their voice.
What anyone couldn't do is get one of the boys about to fight, heavy-set and blond-haired, to turn and look at Sam. Two others in the crowd look Sam's way as well, obviously distracted.] Hey now, you don't really want to start a fight in the middle of a hallway. Thought this was supposed to be a good time here, people comin' together, not arguin' over stupid shit. Ya'll should calm down now and sort this out later.
[the other, slighter would-be combatant looks ready to spit, brushing off Sam's advice with a 'What the hell do you know about it?', but his opponent shakes his head. It's visible even in the boy's shoulders that he's calmed, no longer interested in the fight, and he says as much. That gets another derisive look and a flippant comment about settling things later, but - it's more or less over. People mill around, making sure the excitement is really done with, then start to disperse.
Sam watches them go, hiding the churning surprise in his stomach that the ability worked at all, and adds (in a less purposeful voice):] There y'are. Would be a damn stupid decision to start a fight with a bunch of superheroes around anyway.